Electronic Literature Seminar

This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of using computers for textual analysis, with special emphasis on textual research in English literature of the Nineteenth Century. In the Spring of 2004, the course will focus on Jane Austen's unfinished novel, Sanditon, and Anna Austen Lefroy's continuation of it. Successful completion of this course will prepare students to do computer-aided textual research on other bodies of text as well. Projects will include the creation of encoded electronic texts of Austen and Lefroy, writing simple scripts to analyze them, and using basic statistics to measure literary and stylistic features. The class will utilize a combination of lecture, discussion, presentations, and practical lab experience. Enrollment is limited. There are no prerequisites.